Rodent trap



Nov., 269 '1935.

c. G. MAHONEY 2,022,625

RODENT TRAP Filed Oct. 8, 1952 Patented Nov. 26, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RODEN T TRAP Application October 8, 1932, Serial No. 636,810

1 Claim.

My invention relates to a rodent or mouse trap of the type which clamps the animal against the base by means of a spring actuated jaw.

An object of my invention is to provide such a trap which will quickly and efficiently trap the animal.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a trap which can be easily set.

A further object of my invention is to provide a trap which will allow removal of the dead body of the rodent without touching the same.

-A further object of my invention is to provide means for conveniently setting the trap without danger of snapping of the jaws against the fingers l5 of the hand.

A further object of my invention is to provide a trap of this type which is of an extremely simple construction, has very few parts to get out of order and which can be constructed at a minimum of expense.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan View of the trap,

Figure 2 is a side elevation,

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the side elevation taken medially thereof,

Figure 4 is a rear View of the trap',

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail view of the trigger mechanism, and

Figure 6 is a View showing the trap being set for use.

I have used the character I0 to designate the wooden base of the trap.

The clamping jaw is formed of an integrally bent piece of wire I I,which is rectangular in shape and terminates in the integral lever member` I2.

The lever member I2 terminates in the bent over lip I3. It will be seen that this entire form can be made of one piece of wire secured at one point.

A pair of staples I4 receive the wire as shown, and the springs I5 include the extended portions I6 and I1 to provide a spring clamping action against the wire I I. From this construction it will be seen that the wire frame Il is pivotally mounted Within the staples I4.

The bait receiving member is indicated by the character I8 and includes the bent over lip I9 for securing the bait.

The member I6 terminates at its rear extremity in the upwardly bent lip 20 and staple ZI provides a pivoting action at this point. The member I8 is also bent downwardly at 22.

Secured at 23 to the base I0 (see Fig. 3) is the small spring wire 24 which normally keeps the 5' member I8 in raised position.

The trigger for actuating the jaws is pivotally mounted on the pin 25, which is merely a small diameter rod which is passed through the base I0 of the trap. 10

This trigger is arranged to pivot within the slot 25a, which is merely a slot cut lengthwise of the base Ill and is made slightly wider than the trigger itself.

The trigger is made of a punched-out piece l5 of iiat metal 26 through which the pin 25 passes as shown clearly in Figure 5.

The member 26 includes the upper shoulder 21 and the lower shoulder 28 as well as the bent over lip 29. 20

The trigger 26 also includes the bent over lip 30. The inner end of the trigger includes the pointed portion 3| and the shoulder 32. I shall now explain how the trap is used.

In setting, the bait is rst placed on the lip 25 I9. The rear of the trap is then grasped by the iingers as shown in Figure 6 with the fore finger placed against the bent over member I3. The fore nger then depresses this member and the jaws II of the trap then approach the posi- 30 tion shown in Figure 3.

As soon as the end 33 of the member I3 strikes the shoulder 28 in its downward movement, the trigger 26 starts to pivot about the pin 25 and raises the shoulder 32 (see Fig. 3) to the posi- 35 tion shown.

Then, as soon as the nger is. released from the member I3 the inside of the end 33 is rmly pressed against the shoulder 21 (see Fig. 5). Since the trigger is in the position as shown in 40 Figure 2 when the trap is already sprung, the member 33 will readily pass the upper shoulder 21 in its downward movement.

However as soon as the trigger is in the position as shown in Figure 5 when the member 33 45 strikes the shoulder 21, it will be held in this position, especially since the shoulder 32 will then be positioned directly above the upwardly bent lip 20 of the member I8.

The upward pressure against the shoulder 21 50 will tend to maintainthe pressure of the shoulder 32 against the end of the lip 20.

It will now be seen as soon as the rodent nibbles at the bait that the lever member I8 will be forced downwardly. As soon as the lever member I8 is 55 forced downwardly the inner shoulder 32 will be released, and the member 33, which is bearing against the shoulder 21 will force the shoulder 21 in an upward direction, thereby causing the end member 3l to drop downwardly and of course at this time the wire jaws I I will quickly clamp onto the animal.

The bent over lip 30 prevents the trigger mechanism from dropping downwardly too far and likewise the lip 29 accomplishes the same result at the rear of the trigger.

It will be seen that the spring 24 as explained brings the lever member I8 to its open position as soon as the action previously explained takes place.

It will vbe seen that I have provided a rodent trap which is eicient in operation and which can be set without contaminating the ngers or injuring the fingers and which will also allow removal of the dead animals without touching the same.

ItV will be also seen that I have provided these characteristics in a device of very few parts, which would tend to eliminate the necessity of replace-Y ment of these parts, and that I have also provided such a device which can be made at a very minimum cost.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention Vwithout departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention t cover by my claim any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within its scope.

I claim as my invention:

A mouse trap comprising a wooden base having a lengthened slot, a trigger pivotallymounted within the slot, a U shaped spring-urged striking bar pivotally mounted to the base at one end thereof, said striking bar integrally terminating into a double bent portion of limited width at the said pivoted end thereof and arranged substantially at right angles to the striking bar member, to provide a narrow finger piece, said double bent portion including a downwardly bent lip, said l5 trigger including a lower shoulder and an upper shoulder adapted to coact with said lip for setting or releasing purposes by means of said lip being adapted to force the rear of the trigger downwardly when manually depressed against the lower shoulder and said upper shoulder adapted to retain the jaw in open position, said trigger including an inner shoulder, and a bait-receiving lever including an upwardly bent lip positioned to be retained in position by the inner shoulder, said jaw being sprung when the bait-receiving I lever is forced downwardly allowing release of the jaw extension from the trigger.

CHARLES G. MAHONEY. 

